Whether it’s just a little more help, or an entire project that needs funding, there are always avenues to help get your project off the ground.
Our goal with both Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds & "OutClass™ outdoor classrooms", patent pending , is to get your project funded and built as quickly as possible. The faster we’re able to install your playground or classroom, the sooner your children get outside and experience the first-hand benefits of engagement with nature.
Fundraising today is more competitive than ever before and it requires a sophisticated & strategic approach. Having raised millions of dollars for hundreds of projects, we offer this guide as a companion to our fundraising workshop. We hope this helps to make your dream a reality. Remember the old proverb, “the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time”.
Funding Opportunities
We’ve got our ear to the ground and constantly have our eyes peeled for new funding opportunities. Often, these are time sensitive, with application deadlines, or specifically geared towards a specific type of installation. We’ll keep our list of current, “live” grant and funding opportunities up-to-date on this page along with details on their coverage and application process.
| Name of Funding Opportunity | Location | Type | For Projects | Deadline | Link to Funding Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Trillium Foundation | Ontario | Improve Community Facilities | Min: $10,000 - Max: $150,000 | June 14, 2023 at 5PM ET | Ontario Trillium Foundation |
| The ChariTree Foundation | Canada | Outdoor Classroom | Max: $2,000 | The ChariTree Foundation | |
| NY State Parks Grant Program | New York State | Parks & Recreational Facilities to Preserve & Restore Land | Min: $5,000 - Max: $250,000 | 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 | NY State Parks Grant Program |
| The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafitz Foundation | Washington, DC Metropolitan Area | Community Enhancement | Min: $15,000 - Max: $900,000 | Upcoming Deadline July 5, 2023 | The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafitz Foundation |
| American Academy of Dermatology Association | United States | Shade Structure Grant Program | Max: $8,000 | October 1 - December 15, 2023 for the 2024 application | American Academy of Dermatology Association |
| The Dekko Foundation | Alabama, Indiana,Iowa,Minnesota | Community Enhancement | Ongoing | The Dekko Foundation | |
| New School Grant for Playgrounds | Alberta | Planning and Building Schools | Max: $250,000 | Ongoing | New School Grant for Playgrounds |
| Community Facility Enhancement Program | Alberta | Community Facility Enhancement Program | Max: $125,000 | May 15, June 15, Sept 15 | Community Facility Enhancement Program |
| Neighborhood Park Development Program (NPDP) | Edmonton, Alberta | Neighborhood Park Development Program | Min: $15,000 - Max: $250,000 | Ongoing | Neighborhood Park Development Program (NPDP) |
| Edmonton Community Foundation | Edmonton, Alberta | Edmonton Community Foundation | Min: $5,000 - Max: $20,000 | Ongoing | Edmonton Community Foundation |
| Calgary Building Community | Calgary, Alberta | Calgary Building Community | Up to $30,000 | October 2023 | Calgary Building Community |
| Northern Development Initiative Trust | British Columbia | Community Development | Up to $30,000 | Ongoing | Northern Development Initiative Trust |
| Richardson Foundation | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Community Improvement | $1 Million Annually | Ongoing | Richardson Foundation |
| The Winnipeg Foundation | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Community Improvement | Up to $100,000 | October 2, 2023 | The Winnipeg Foundation |
| North Carolina Schools Go Outside (GO) Grant | North Carolina | Funding for Outdoor Learning | Ongoing | North Carolina Schools Go Outside (GO) Grant | |
| Gray Family Foundation Grant | Oregon | Outdoor Classroom | Min: $5,000 - Max: $50,000 | August 4, 2023 and October 20, 2023 | Gray Family Foundation Grant |
| Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant Program (ORLPP) | Massachusetts | Community Improvement | Min: $10,000 - Max: $300,000 | Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant Program (ORLPP) | |
| Canada Healthy Communities Initiative | Canada | Community Improvement | Opens May 14th | Canada Healthy Communities Initiative | |
| Friends of Acadia Outdoor Classrooms | Maine | Outdoor Classroom | Ongoing | Friends of Acadia Outdoor Classrooms | |
| NC Heritage Advisory Council “Go Outside” Grant | North Carolina | Outdoor Classrooms | Ongoing | NC Heritage Advisory Council “Go Outside” Grant | |
| Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund | United States | Education Pandemic Relief | Ongoing | Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund | |
| Community Impact/Classroom Boost Grant | Providence, RI | Outdoor Classroom | Ongoing | Community Impact/Classroom Boost Grant |
Documents to Get Started
Bienenstock Design Process
Click to Download PDF
Funding Your Natural Playground
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Natural Playground FAQ’s
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